Daily Republican., 1887-09-30
After SEVEl YEARS.
BY GUlNnvKnK.

A book lay on her lap. but its pages
uttered bsck and forth upheeded.
bho was younR-not more than TWEEN
~ fve-and prepossessina
Those who passed turned TO look
again at the graceful form in white
bordered serge and the brilliant face be.
meath the yelled hat.
A brilliant face, yet sad one now,
With that pathetic droop to the ruby lips
snd that haunting expression In the
dark. blue eyes.
OF what was Erma Vslsor thinking
- she SAT there In thesunlight with the
sound OF merry words and laughter
RIGGING in her ears, and the wavo of the
Atlantic splashing Almost at her feet?
Not OF tue present, but the past; OF .
sum mer ifAt wss 10 her the sweetest
ssddsst memory Of her life; Of an aiter-
noon like this-vAfm and bright
when she had made the decision that In
after years bad cost her panas Of an.
guish and bitter tears.
The sparkling waves, the white sand.
the shifting croWd all faded from view,
aud che saw instead . shsdowy glade, .
broken stile, and two Hgures-one .
young man with IN earnest face and
soSos,b oeAA yoeb sAo SshSA b"A "Asn
dropping head.
Shs saw him take bis companions
hand aud while his features glowed " ith
feelipg, heard him tell of his love and
bis hopes for the future; saw the girls
parted, and reluctantly Jet firmly the
words came:
Barton, It capuo. bt! I love you,
but oil nay life have lopRed for wealth
and power. This plain life here would
be distasteful to me. I would be dis
oontepted, and we would both bs mis-
erable. 1t is best that We part"
Obi she remem beIed them well, those
selfish, cruel wordr; yet It had seemed
TO her then that she acted wisely.
1t WAS . struggle between love and
reason, and the latter oop quertd. Yet
to-day, after seven years, bhe eat there
possessed OF the wealth and power she
had coveted-a miserable woman.
With an effort abe reused herself and
picked up the book that had fallen M.
awares to her feet. Some distap CO away
Q golden haired boy WAS at play, and
ErmA's gaze soiteped ~ 1t rested upon
him.
She moved toward him, and 1t that
instant . man, who was strolling along
the sands, stopped and spoke to the
child. Erma, busy with the adjustment
Of her veil, scarcely noticed him, but
moved slowly on.
Come, Lewis" she said, I'VE must
60 back"
o quick uplifting Of her eyes, an in
drawn breath, . culver Of the lips, and
ErmA Valsor sto)d like one turned to
stone.
Scarcely lefs immovable was he who
stood opposite; and then change came
upon the dark face; 1t seemed TO harden
and grow cold.
"Is he your child7" he raid in low,
set tones
"Yes," breathed Erma; and then the
color came back to her cheeks, and she
broke the bonds that held her. "It II
strange We ehould meet l was just
thinking Of you."
az am fiattered," he replied. Yet
I would suggest that the wealthy Mre
Valsor spend her leisure moments more
I'D van tn gee usly and agreeably."
She shrank beneath the cold soorn o.
bis tones, aud looking half timidly ink
bis eyes saw only the light OF naughty
disdsin there He had not forgiven
her. Yet she was loath to let him gt
like this.
"Are--Are you OF the old plaos os?'
she queried.
"I have gone there for visit"
"Is It mnoh chanRed? l hav'
thousht Of driving over thers tom'
day"
that has chan Redlittle. II Am there
shall be pleased to chow yor-"
''Oh, 1 would not come now" said
Brma, quickly. "I thought IL was nm
tenanted-deserted."
How nervous and confused she WAS
she, whose ready wit and tact wa,
never know TO fail her.
She regretted her last words when
Barton Dawn, with . naughty bow
said:
al am sorry my presence there vii
deter you from gratifying your Gu
riosity. Still, II you choose to come,
will keep my self In seolusion."
He turned away, ana Erms, with
tears IN her eyes, reached out and drew
little Lawis to her.
"You misunderstood me-" were the
words upon her lips.
But shs checked them, for had he no,
su Cd ciently humiliated her.
And 30, with her chtld's hands In
hers, she walked across the eands, and
when Barton Dawn, after q few steps,
turned to look back. he saw only the
CLEAN OF golden curis and hutler OF q
white voil.
"And 90 we meet after seven years. u
he thought, moodily. "Time has dealt
lightly with her; but she Is ono of those
women upon whom sorrows make light
impress-fair and hckle. Our parting
her husbands death, both alike are
toraotten I am the only one who
must remember. And shs talks Of
coming to the old place; how could
bear TO soc her there. where In every
nook and corner her image has haunted
me Yet, perhaps. IL wonld break the
spell. think OF Erma the girl l loved
III Guy vxlsor's widow. the woman OF
the world, came, l might then realize
ltba difference ard my own folly"
Ye, the days passed, and Erma Val
sor did not come to the cottage, and
Barton, rec.lling their meeting on the
,each, wished he had been kinder Il
ner.
They might never meet again, aud
she would remember his harsh, scofa.
iul words,
But one day message came. and tho
mau's hears beat faster as he read IL.
"BARroN.--I Am in trouble-Lewis
my earning is I'LL need o frisnd-a
srue friend. Win you come TO neP
s'ERMA"
He could not refuse then, and mount
| Ing HIS horss he went with all haste &C
| the hotol who're he wonld fird her.
She csms TO greet hin looking like
shadow OF her former self, ber face ss
| white ns the rohe aha wore, her eyes un.
Iderliped with dark circles that lOld OF
,lespless nights and anxiety.
"You sent for me, and ! came" he
said.